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Pretty Good

Absolutely the worst movie.

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Strangely quiet, gentle movie considering the subject matter. Not much action, but quite a bit of discussion of the ramifications and consequences of war.Portrays the contrasts between p*ss-and-vinegar young soldiers, and the old-hand leadership of Sergeant Hazard and the Sergeant Major.The death of Jackie Willow is stunning, and the scenes afterward are sensitively done, and very sad. There is much to consider in the prices we all pay for being so ready to get into combat. Sergeant Hazard understands the costs, and wants to get back into the action, if only to ensure no more young men enthusiastically stumble into death.Very well done, and very well acted.

War in general, and particularly the Vietnam War, is an issue which required socially conscious and intellectual rumination...This was a story about the home front, and how the overzealous, and wet behind the ears soldier wanted to get involved...Hovering around the travesty of the TET Offensive, oblivion to what was actually happening on the other side of the ocean, made acts such as combat, and grenades carried by four year old Vietnamese girls, just a little more glamorous!! Military bases in the United States were desperately seeking some form of amelioration, and they wanted to be vindicated, as well as be spoon fed justification for their actions...This film explores all the diverse elements of patriotism,and makes the actions of the military just and rational!! This film allows the moviegoer to look at things through the eyes of the entire military rank and file involved in the Vietnam War!! Point of order!!, only a soldier knows what being a soldier is all about!! Much more inherently so than someone with a profession, particularly a man who is a soldier by nature..There are those who join, or those who were conscripted, but after sifting through all of them, there are men who possess a rudimentary element to their constitution whereby they are nothing but soldiers!!!...If their country made a mistake, they did not make a mistake for following orders..What their initial agenda was intended for was to uphold and defend the principles and policies of the United States of America!! The bulk of this film focuses on the development of a soldier, the anxious fortitude he possessed to serve his nation...While protesters balked at what they believed our government was doing was wrong, the military men and women were doing what they thought was right...THUS THEY SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR IT!! If a soldier loses his life in combat, he is cast away in Arlington National Cemetery to THE GARDENS OF STONE...Bear in mind that a soldier has a different perspective as to whether or not a soldier's life was lost for no reason whatsoever!! The catastrophic outcome of the Vietnam War allows provision for several different conundrums to prevail: Do we engage in war with a blind patriotic demeanor?...Do we engage in war for National Cause? Or, do we engage in war for political agreement?...Suddenly devastation has a depraved dinner bell awakening, and, more and more Americans became affected, emotionally, physically, and psychologically!!! What shatters the mental stability of Americans touched by war is that they are hit by facts that are not complicated, but, very simple..We got involved in a war, we lost...Americans disagree.. There's turmoil...A young men wants to serve his country...he gets killed!!!...Underneath it all, all of the characters in the movie are hit with the bittersweet reality that they are only human and they make mistakes..Their patriotism to the cause of War by way of contributing to the military was something they thought was in the best interest of their nation!! Right and wrong are not black and white issues, and platitudes such as these should not be taken with a jaundice eye!! There are many Americans who believe a nation is always justified in declaring and/or fighting in a war!! There are other Americans who even believe that we should get involved in a war merely for purposes of strengthening our national resolve..."Gardens of Stone" is a film which brilliantly delegates tragedy, and appropriates anger..When a young soldier is killed in Vietnam in the line of duty, the reactions of the characters in the movie are not derivative, nor is there just an obligatory deference, rather, there is a heart felt empathy and sorrow for the loss of a picture book example of a soldier as well as a man!! This individual had a moral imperative to expedite national allegiance...If a soldier and a soldier's mother and father can have a grass roots recognition of the purpose for losing a productive life, then so too should the mainstream American public recognize it as well!!! The issue that the Vietnam War was a miserable tragic error, and the issue that the Military must execute their duties to defend the honor and integrity of her nation, are dichotomous!!! By no means is this an anti-war speech!! Tremendous acting performances make "Gardens of Stone" a movie worth watching...Especially if you are in the mood to just be a human being!! This documentary style movie is poignant, compelling, and articulates the pride with which this nation should have for her military branches!!...A definite winner!! It appears as though everything Francis Ford Coppola touches turns to solid gold!!

This Book and subsequent Movie was a Powerhouse of writing and movie making. The author nailed the story line with powerful emotions. Mr. Coppela has always had a gift with turning the written word into movie magic. The Cast could not have been picked better. At the time this book came out I was in the National Guard and I was blown Away and wanted to be an Honor Guard but transporters cannot be a part of that Time Honored tradition. If you did not feel anything when you watched this movie...watch it again! Honor,Integrity,Selfless Service are only a few of the traits that are portrayed here. I had a tremendous feeling of Pride when I read the Book. I have an old VHS tape I recorded Gardens of Stone from TV and it is about worn out. I do not know how many times I have seen it but each time I do I am instilled with Pride and Honor for my fellow soldiers. Heavy TruckSSG Pitts

I thought I knew a lot of war movies or movies who's subject has something to do with war. When I think of Vietnam movies, I immediately think of Apocalypse Now, Platoon, Full Metal Jacket, Hamburger Hill, The Deer Hunter, Casualties of War... But Gardens of Stone was completely new to me.When I have to compare it to one of the movies above, than I would compare it to The Deer Hunter. Both movies show the Vietnam war, without actually showing a lot of action. It's more about the families and friends that are left behind and about the soldiers that once served in Vietnam and came back as a completely different person.While The Deer Hunter is one of my all time favorites, I can't say the same about Gardens of Stone. It's a very good movie, but it never is as touching and impressive as The Deer Hunter is. That doesn't mean that this movie isn't any good. It is, but in a different way...It's about a young soldier who is serving in the Honor Guard, responsible for the burial ceremonies of all the soldiers who came back from Vietnam in a body bag. He doesn't want to do that job, he wants to go where the real action is, he wants to be in Vietnam harvesting honor and medals, which eventually will really happen to him, but at a certain cost.Although I expected more from this movie, I have to say that I liked it. Thanks to the real action footage incorporated in the movie, the good acting by all the actors and the interesting story, this movie was certainly worth a watch. Too bad that it was a bit predictable. From the beginning on everyone who pays a little attention will know what will happen at the end of the movie. Nevertheless I still reward it with an 8/10